Guelph Politico: questionnaire

Showing posts with label questionnaire. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE - Dan Gibson for Ward 1 Councillor

Dan Gibson has become a well-known and outspoken presence around the council chamber in his first term as city councillor. Can he convince Ward 1 voters to give an encore in October?

CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE - Marino Gazzola for Wellington Catholic District School Board Trustee

All members of the present Wellington Catholic District School Board are running for re-election this year, including the present Chair, Marino Gazzola. So what's his case for returning to the board?

A Note on Guelph Politico Candidate Questionairres for 2018

As you may have noticed, Guelph Politico has begun posting the Candidate Questionnaires for people running to be Guelph's mayor, its city councillors, or for trustee in one of its two English school boards. This would be the third time that Politico has run such questionnaires, but this time, they're really ambitious.

Phil Andrews once ran the Guelph Mercury, and now he wants to help run the Wellington Catholic District School Board. Andrews is one of six people looking to fill four spots, so does he make his case?

CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE - James Gordon for Ward 2 Councillor

With Andy Van Hellemond taking his leave of council, that leaves James Gordon as the one incumbent for Ward 2 to stand for re-election. Can he make the case for voters to give him a second term instead of starting over with a clean slate?

CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE: Phil Allt for Ward 3 Councillor

Phil Allt won first place in the 2014 Municipal Election among Ward 3 voters, and he aims to keep is seat in the next term of council. Here are his responses to the 2018 Guelph Politico Candidate Questionnaire.

Surveys from School Board Trustee Candidates

By popular demand, I decided to do a candidate survey for those running to represent Guelph's two school boards, the Upper Grand District School Board and the Wellington Catholic District School Board. The trustee races are kind of the redheaded stepchildren of the municipal election race, and they don't get even a fraction as much attention as the council and mayoral races. That's kind of unfair, and having talked to numerous trustee candidates in person and through social media about closing the coverage gap, I decided to take a second look. I wasn't sure if I'd have the time, but sometimes it's worth making the time, so now I present the Guelph Politico Trustee Candidate Questionnaire.

Greg Schirk (Ward 4) - Candidate Questionnaire

Like many candidates, Greg Schirk's pride and dedication to the Royal City comes from spending most of his life as a Guelphite. He grew up in Guelph and then studied carpentry and broadcasting at Conestoga College. Career-wise, Schirk is a licensed glazier metal mechanic and has a successful career selling energy efficient window and door products to home owners and property managers. It's green business, and that Schirk takes pride in the fact they do it on their own without government subsidies. Obviously, Schirk is a fiscal conservative, and his run for Ward 4 is his second turn on the ballot after running for the local Ontario PCs in 2011. He says his focus will be on on improving core services and maintaining our city’s infrastructure while carefully ensuring you get the best return on your tax dollars.On his website, Schirk says he's "committed to eliminating wasteful spending at City Hall and easing the tax burden on hardworking Guelph families." And now he takes a few moments to answer the Guelph Politico candidate questionnaire.*

Bob Senechal (Ward 5) - Candidate Questionnaire

Active in politics for many years now, Bob Senechal hopes to now join city council and represent the people of Ward 5. If you know the name then you might remember the 2007 Provincial Election when Senechal ran locally for the Progress Conservatives under John Tory (who, as you may have heard, is also making a run at local politics). If you went to Parkview Church, you may also recognize Senechal as he was the lead pastor there. Now the chaplin at the Elliott Community Centre, and a small business owner, Senechal remains committed to Guelph politics, his wife of nearly four decades Gale, and his three children, and three grandchildren. "My entire working career has been focused on making a positive difference in people’s lives," says Senechal. "Listening carefully, and working together cooperatively to find solutions for a preferred future will enable city council to develop policy that will enhance and improve the quality of life for all the people of Guelph and its businesses that choose to live and work here." For now, Senechal enhances civic engagement by responding to the Guelph Politico candidate questionnaire.

First time candidate Scott Butler joins an active and accomplished slate in Ward 5 as one of six candidates looking to represent the voters in and around the University of Guelph neighbourhood on city council. Butler leads the Policy and Research Department at the Ontario Good Roads Association, one of Canada’s oldest and largest municipal organizations. In his job, he's responsible for all government relations pertaining to municipally-owned and municipally-managed infrastructure. According to Butler, he's been instrumental in negotiated with the provincial government around infrastructure funding, mandatory asset management and new revenue tools for municipalities, which would serve him well if he should be elected to city council. In his spare time, Butler sits on the Board of Guelph Soccer and is a member of the fund development committee of Hospice Wellington. Now, Butler hopes to lend his skills and experience to the horseshoe in city hall, and he took some time to answer the Guelph Politico candidate questionnaire.

Martin Collier says he could have moved anywhere in the world with his wife Mary, but they decided to settle in Guelph for its "progressive municipal government, unique and historic downtown, multitude of sports and cultural activities, array of wellness practitioners and programs, proximity to nature and, especially, the friendly people." In 2006, Collier established Healthy Transport Consulting, a group dedicated to providing government, private sector and non-profit organizations with sustainable transportation policy, planning, research and project/event management services whose clients have included the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, Environmental Commissioner of Ontario, Metrolinx/York Region Transit, the Niagara Escarpment Commission, and Pollution Probe. Collier's other activities include co-founding the Toronto and Guelph chapters of the Centre for Active Transportation, being the first manager of Ontario Smart Growth Network, being a project manager for Transportation Options, working as an Ontario Development Officer at the Nature Conservancy of Canada and being the first manager of the ReinCARnate Vehicle Recycling Project at the Recycling Council of Ontario. And now, we wants to represent Ward 2 saying, "I am fortunate that my diverse career, civic advocacy and volunteering, along with my education and love of music, has enabled me to make a difference to the livability of cities for people and other species." Here are Collier's responses to the candidate questionnaire.

Scott Tracey (Ward 4) - Candidate Questionnaire

Scott Tracey spent years in the council chambers watching the action from the press box, but now he aims to be the reported rather than doing the reporting. Like potential future council colleague Maggie Laidlaw, Tracey was born in Scotland, but moved to Canada with his family at the age of four. Settling in the Hamilton area, Tracey attended Niagara College's Journalism program and got his first job at the Niagara Falls Review before joining the staff of the Guelph Mercury in July 1991.While at the Mercury, he covered entertainment, education, police and courts and eventually City Hall, which Tracey says it allowed him to indulge his longtime passion for municipal politics. The husband and father of three says that those years on the city hall beat have given him the insight and experience needed to represent Ward 4. "I love this city, but I know it can be even better," he says. And now, Scott Tracey tells his answers to the Guelph Politico candidate questionnaire.

Ray Ferraro (Ward 2) Response to the Candidate Questionnaire

Ray Ferraro is the epitome of a life-long Guelphite. He was born and raised in the Royal City where he has raised two children and six grandchildren. He's worked over 40 years in the real estate construction and development industry, and has been a member of Guelph's storied Italian Canadian Club for 35 years. Previously serving as a city councillor during the mayoralty of Kate Quarrie from 2003 to 2006. Below is Ferraro's response to the Guelph Politico candidate questionnaire:

Alex Green (Ward 5) - Candidate Questionnaire

Ward 5 candidate Alex Green grew up just south of Guelph, and went to high school at Centennial C.V.I. He graduated from the University of Toronto with a BSc in Mathematics, where he also showed a talent for being funny, writing for a humour themed U of T student newspaper. He was also active in several organizations that attempted to increase student participation in the political process. Back home in Guelph, Green worked in manufacturing and then enjoyed a brief stint working for Statistics Canada on the 2011 census. Looking for a new field, he went into business for himself as a mobile app developer, creating custom apps for small businesses as well as game and puzzle apps for a broader audience. He also works as search engine analyst, helping the biggest names in the business improve the accuracy of their search results. Alex lives with his partner and her six-year-old son in the University Village neighbourhood, where when his not designing apps or politicking he can be found indulging his hobbies in photography, writing, and board games. Speaking of games, he took time out of his campaign schedule to answer the Guelph Politico candidate questionnaire.

Maria Pezzano (Ward 1) - Candidate Questionnaire

Maria Pezzano was the last person to register for the election to run in Ward 1, but she's in it, as they say, to win it. A life long Guelphite, Pezzano grew up surrounded by her tight-knit Italian-Canadian family. "There was always the aroma of fine foods cooking," she says. "The main ingredient was always love." Working her way through Sacred Heart School, St. James School and Bishop Macdonell High School, Pezzano made her way to Fanshawe College and then came back to Guelph to start her career as an artist 27 years ago. She's had studios on Wyndham St., and in the Trafalgar Building, but he current artistic works can be seen and bought at Studio Boutique at 77 Suffolk St. W. Since 2010, she's been involved in mobilizing and organizing The Ward Residents’ Association, a group of citizens that came together to offer input and influence in regards to the development on 5 Arthur St. S. So what would Pezzano do for Ward 1? Read her candidate questionnaire below to find out.

Phil Allt (Ward 3) - Candidate Questionnaire

And now, a former colleague who had to be let go. Just kidding. Phil Allt left the Gang of Four voluntarily when he decided to run for city council earlier this year. Of course, Allt is no stranger to the campaign trail, he ran twice for the Federal NDP in the Royal City during the 2004 and 2006 elections. Allt is a born and bred Guelphite who just retired from teaching high school History, Philosophy and Political Science. He's the Former Chair Wellington and Guelph Housing Authority, Former Treasurer of Waterloo Ontario Secondary School Teacher's Federation, Former Treasurer of the Guelph Jazz Festival, and a volunteer at Onward Willow Better Beginnings. Along with his contributions to the Gang of Four on CFRU, he's also written articles for the Kitchener Record, Guelph Mercury, Toronto Star, and various other business and academic publications. In his spare time, Allt is also an avid Curler, Slopitch Player, Scuba Diver, and Skier. But on political matters, Allt recently turned his attention to answering the Guelph Politico Candidate Questionnaire.

Terry O’Connor is a well-known figure to Guelph politicos, so it's almost hard to believe that he's never run for office before. The former Labour Council president came to Guelph in 1968 and worked for Bell Canada as a service technician. Retiring in 2009, he became Labour Co-ordinator for the Guelph Wellington Dufferin United Way to increase the participation of local unions in United Way fund raising campaigns. O’Connor was also a founding member of the Guelph-Wellington Task Force for the Elimination of Poverty and has worked with several social justice organizations including the Guelph-Wellington Social Justice Coalition and the Guelph Well-Being Initiative. But that's work, when it comes to play, O'Connor has coached in the Guelph Minor Hockey Association and the Guelph Minor Baseball Association, and he was the first president of the Guelph Girls Hockey Association. “I believe one of my strengths is bringing people together to successfully work through opportunities and difficulties,” O’Connor says. “I take a hands-on approach to dealing with both.” And so it is with the candidate questionnaire, as O'Connor takes a hands on approach to talking about the issues.

Chris Keleher Sr. (Ward 2) - Candidate Questionnaire

Chris Keleher Sr. was born and raised in Guelph and currently resides in Ward 2 where he lives with his wife of 34 years; together they have five children and eight grandchildren. He's currently employed with a local liquid waste removal and disposal company. Keleher says that he decided to run for council noting the increasing dysfunction of the organization leading the city, a trend he started noticing back when he worked for the City of Guelph in the 90s. "I strongly feel we need common sense governance and we need to work together from council to the front line staff to provide the best possible city services to the taxpayers/residents, business owners and developers as efficiently and cost effective as possible," Keleher says. "By getting involved I hope to make a difference, it’s always gratifying to be part of the solution then to be part of the problem!" Will Ward 2 voters agree? Here's Chris Keleher Sr.'s candidate questionnaire.

If re-elected, Maggie Laidlaw will be the longest serving member of city council, a political career that she started 20 years go when she was first elected school trustee. She was then elected to council for the first time in 2000, the start of an auspicious and occasionally controversial tenure around the horseshoe that has, regardless, seen her re-elected three time by now. Laidlaw was born in Scotland, but her family has deep roots in Guelph. The grandparents of her husband David (who was my high school art teacher by the way) owned a grocery store on Ontario Street for years; the future Mr. and Mrs. Laidlaw met while taking part in a cross-Canada bicycle tour to promote the Olympics in Montreal. Settling in Guelph, the couple raise their two children here in the Royal City where Laidlaw still works as the Director of Scientific Affairs at Nutrasouce Diagnostics Inc., a private sector contract research organisation. Although she plans on retiring from her day job in the next couple of years, she remains dedicated to her work on council, and to help prove it she now asnwers the Guelph Politico Candidate Questionnaire.

Dimitrios “Jim” Galatianos is running for city council in Ward 5, and to say that he has an axe to grind is something of an understatement. He's been fighting a legal battle the last four years with the City of Guelph over by-law enforcement on his property, which Galatianos feels was excessive in its reach and reaction. The son of Greek immigrants ("for me, My Great Big Fat Greek Wedding was a documentary," he says), Galatianos got into politics early serving as President of the College Of Social Science at U of G, where he was one of the organizers of the original Magic Bus. He's worked at Homewood Health Centre, one of the top mental health and addiction facilities in North America and a Guelph institution, for over 25 years. In 2007, Galatianos received his certificate as a Family Mediator, and as a member of the United Food and Commercial Workers union, he's assisted in the negotiation of a few collective bargaining agreements. "I am passionate about my family, I am passionate about my city and I am passionate about returning ownership back to the taxpayer," he says. Here is Galatianos responses to the candidate questionnaire.